07/27/2026
🌍 A World Championship debut to remember! 🇺🇸🤺
Congratulations to Sophie Liu on an incredible performance at her first Senior World Championships, finishing 16th in the world!
Despite the challenges surrounding the typhoon and the disruptions it created, Sophie stayed focused and delivered an outstanding performance. After a hard-earned battle to Day 2, she opened with a dominant 15-9 victory over Zuzanna Cieslar (Poland), the 2025 Junior World Championship silver medalist, before taking out Nisanur Erbil (Turkey). In the top 16 round, Sophie pushed one of France’s top fencers, Sarah Noutcha, to the limit, narrowly falling 15-13.
The support from home made the experience even more special. Several Capital fencers and their families traveled to cheer Sophie on throughout the competition, creating an unforgettable atmosphere. The team also had the opportunity to meet renowned coach Sasha Shirshov, who is leading the international fencing camp following the championships.
It was also exciting to cheer on Jaime Florez and Alex Florez, who represented Spain at the World Championships. Jaime and Alex have become familiar faces at Capital Fencing Academy, regularly joining our training camps, and we’re proud to support them as part of our extended fencing family.
We’re incredibly proud of Sophie for representing both Team USA and Capital Fencing Academy with resilience, composure, and determination on nearly the biggest stage for our sport. Finishing 16th in the world in her senior World Championship debut is an outstanding achievement, and we know it’s only the beginning. Congratulations, Sophie! 💙🤺🏆
